8.25.10
7:16 pm
A few months ago, E announced that the most recent albums (Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire and End Times) were the first and second parts of a trilogy. The final piece, Tomorrow Morning, is the polar opposite of the personal apocalypse which was the subject matter of End Times. This one all about hope and love and happiness and yeah, we get it. With this list of song titles, how could we not? Originally, I had made some predictions based on Hombre Lobo and End Times and I am happy to say I was mostly wrong. Sort of.
In Gratitude For This Magnificent Day
A simple, light and sweet instrumental floats in to assure the listener (if you couldn't tell from the bright pink cover featuring a solitary tree exploding with purple and white flowers) that everything is going to be fine. Not the most complex or compelling tune ever written by E, but a very clear message is expressed perfectly: it's time to be happy.
I'm A Hummingbird
Although the title invokes one of the most joyful (it looks joyful anyway) creatures on the planet, the music is a continually shifting susurration of low strings and nothing more. E speaks of everything being worth it to have reached this day and then declares himself a hummingbird, "beautiful and free". Hey, at least it's a simile. The simplicity works to bring focus to E words and this serves as a fitting intro to the most upbeat Eels album...EVER.
The Morning
A very simple track featuring E accompanied by only an organ (featuring some rising and falling electronic bloops eventually) which asks over and over why one wouldn't want to make the most of their day. The point is pretty much there from the start and not really complicated by, you know, a lot of lyrics.
Baby Loves Me
Finally, something that sounds as happy as its lyrics. The verses are lists of people that dislike E, ranging from neighbors that don't like his flowers to travel agents that cancel his trip to nice girls that think he's a dick, but the chorus redeems all that. "Baby loves me!/And she's smarter than you/My baby loves me!/Unlikely but true", declares E, with just enough self-deprecation to make it sincere. The music is also joyful, assembled from a tiny guitar riff, a couple of notes on a keyboard and a bass, a simple one-two drum machine beat and a constant burbling of electronics in the background like an underground spring. Eventually, a nice little synth flutter comes in and adds quite a bit to the feeling of this one.
Spectacular Girl
Aside from its awful video (featuring a hot, female assassin for some odd reason), this is a really great Eels song. A straight up "let me list why I love this woman" kind of thing, but it utilizes all the right notes and instruments; mellow keyboards, soothing synth strings and a fun, summery drum beat. The first official single from the album, an obvious choice after only one listen.
What I Have To Offer
E plus a guitar can go one of two ways: an instant classic, a heartfelt Eels song or a throwaway, I-feel-like-I've-heard-this-before snoozer.
Even with the strings in the background, this is, sadly, more the latter than the former. Another problem is the reoccurrence of the listing device from "Baby Loves Me". The song is, literally, a list of the things E has to offer. A list that rhymes, but a list nonetheless. Oh well, not every song can be perfect.
This Is Where It Gets Good
To be trite, I'm going to go ahead and agree with the title of the song. Probably my favorite track on the album, it's a bit spare on lyrics, but it more than makes up for it with an intricate and well constructed beat. Clocking in at over six minutes (the longest Eels song ever), the first three feature solid lyrics while the rest is more of a jam session within the confines of the music. The integration of the organ and the bass guitar with the drum beat is excellent and compelling as all get out. Elements are continually added, making the song more and more catchy. And, although I could have used more lyrics, the extended outro is interesting enough not to be skipped.
After The Earthquake
Another simple instrumental, it resembles something from Blinking Lights or maybe even Daises of the Galaxy, "A Daisy Through Concrete" perhaps. A nice addition and short enough to stay fresh.
Oh So Lovely
The feeling I get from this track is that of riding a Merry-Go-Round in the summer. It's so celebratory that one could imagine a forward thinking church of some kind adopting this as a devotional. Maybe. And, while it sounds a bit familiar at times, it's a good familiar. There's also a wonderful keyboard that comes into towards the end that gives it even more of a happy, circusy feel. E informs us "he just might stay a while", so I guess he's not going to kill himself anytime soon. Fingers crossed.
The Man
Yet another lister. In this it's different people (new age guy with a yoga mat, Mr. Henry (?), the long haired hippy with the tie-dyed shirt, little skinhead with the tattooed face etc.) telling E he's the man. This song goes so far into the ridiculously saccharine territory that it's enjoyable. Others might not agree. And while the music is fine enough, nothing special, there is a great, energetic drum roll at the end of every musical phrase that is never carried through and it's a massive missed opportunity for this song to really take off. Bummer.
Looking Up
Eels performs a gospel song. As celebratory as a Baptist church on Sunday, all tambourines and hand claps, but, personally, I just can't find much reason to listen to this song. Sort of form without content. Not a bad song, just not for me.
That's Not Her Way
Slow, kind of morose sounding at times, musically it harkens back to "Agony" from Shootenanny. There's some nice guitar eventually, but this song doesn't really stand out. It's yet another one about how his girl is better than all others. Good for him.
I Like The Way Things Are Going
This penultimate track is one of the most straightforward songs on the album. A guitar, a bass and E, talking about...yes, how he likes the way things are going. This is a bit thin musically and lyrically. "I like your toothy smile/it never fails to beguile/whichever way the wind is blowing/I like the way this is going". Really? This is Eels' 9th album and think E might be running out of words to sing.
Mystery of Life
Ah, yes, here we are. The bass and drum beat immediately remind one of "Your Lucky Day In Hell" from Eels' first album. The vocals are whispered in falsetto like some of the best Eels songs, but things fall apart when the chorus of women singing "la la la's" comes in. I understand the idea of juxtaposition, but this is a bit much. The chorus actually takes away from the greatness of the verses and spoils what would have been a great closer.
As with End Times, Tomorrow Morning makes a point, then spends about an hour nailing it into your eye. And even though this album is about looking forward with optimism to the future, the point is still sharp. Too sharp. Also as with End Times, these songs lack the subtly that make earlier Eels albums so good. On the last one, E was sad. Sad sad sad sad. On this one? Well, E is happy. Happy happy happy happy. Hearing an artist say they're happy doesn't make me happy, just as hearing an artist say they're sad doesn't make me sad. It's the sadness or happiness in their voice or in their music that makes it real. This album is all sweet and no bitter, and that just isn't E. I'm not saying I want him to just Sad Bastard out, he did that with End Times and I was just as disappointed. He needs that balance back, or go so extreme that you can't help but get drawn in.
This is a good album, better than End Times and at least equal to Hombre Lobo and in the end, I can't complain. One of my favorite bands has released three full length (if one can really call between forty and fifty minutes full length) albums in fourteen months, however, if I had been given all three albums at once and told I could either see these released, one at a time over those fourteen months or have one album called The End of Tomorrow: 13 Songs with the best songs culled from all three, I probably would have gone with the latter.
Whatever the case, I'm looking forward to seeing Eels in a few weeks, and then hearing what E comes out with next.
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